Scrolling with the Thinkpad's TrackPoint in Ubuntu

Update: note, these instructions work for me on Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid as well as 9.04 Jaunty and 9.10 Karmic on a Thinkpad X61s. Alternatively, the Karmic repos have gpointing-device-settings, a GUI tool for enabling trackpoint scrolling (as well as other special trackpoint/touchpad features).

Ubuntu GNU/Linux 8.10 (Intrepid) switches to evdev for X server input, which has the unfortunate side effect of breaking old EmulateWheel configurations. So scrolling using the middle button + TrackPoint (which I absolutely love) was broken for a while, although it is now fixed. Instead of modifying your xorg.conf, create a new file called /etc/hal/fdi/policy/mouse-wheel.fdi with the following contents:

(Be sure to log in on a console/VT, because restarting GDM will kill all your X apps...)

Note for Ubuntu 8.10 users only: an update to Ubuntu Intrepid (subsequent to my original post) breaks TrackPoint scrolling either completely or possibly only after suspending and resuming. A comment on Ubuntu bug 282387 gives instructions for downloading and installing a fixed version from upstream:

Later releases already have a fixed version of xserver-xorg-input-evdev.

Feedback/testing: I've tested the policy file and workaround above on an X61s. On 8.04/Intrepid, people have indicated that it seems to work on most or all R and T series Thinkpads as well as the X31, X40, X61, and X200. The X300 and X301 Thinkpads seem to have different TrackPoint hardware. On those machines you may need to disable the touchpad in the BIOS to make the above workaround work.

Thanks to all the commenters below who left additional tips for getting this to work and providing feedback on what hardware is supported!

I've a complete newbie question: On my new Lenovo X301 there is no such a device when listing with xinput. Instead I have a "DualPoint Stick" which I configure with the file from your blog. However this dosn't help at all.. I'm using ubuntu 8.10 and I've already disabled & enabled the TrackPoint in BIOS. When listing the input properties with xinput I get:

Works fine on my T61 and Intrepid even after suspend and resume.For those trying to activate "press-to-select" in Intrepid. I make it work installing "Configure Trackpoint" from here:http://tpctl.sourceforge.net/configure-trackpoint.htmlYou may need to install sysfsutils before: sudo apt-get install sysfsutils.Configure Trackpoint will also let you configure speed and sensibility.Anyway STILL trying to make it work Fn+F8 to disable/enable Touchpad. Used to work editing /etc/X11/xorg.conf and adding Option "SHMConfig" "true" but no longer works in Intrepid.Anyone?

Any suggestios how to get it working on a X200 (8.10 all updates)? Some see mto be able to use the scrolling with this but I can't... The scrolling is one of the last big "To Fix" things on my X200 list before I switch to ubuntu completely...

I've just installed 8.10 and had problems with getting my trackpoint scrolling working properly. Yeah, it worked, but only after I turned off touchpad in BIOS, what I didn't want to do.There is another solution - you can easily turn off whole evdev system and get back to 8.04 way of loading drivers for input devices... You just have to add to your xorg.conf such a section:

Section "ServerFlags" Option "AutoAddDevices" "False"EndSection

... then add sections for keyboard and trackpoint (I used to have it under "configured mouse" section) like it was in 8.04... and it should work :)

Sorry for stupid question... But how can I restart hal and gdm... is it enough to create that file? I have an X60 and tried to create that file (correcting the typo in ZAxismapping...) but I'm stuck it won't work... Could someone post a more easy guide for ppl just starting ubuntu experience?

It sort of works on T41p however tends to act a bit strange in Opera Internet Browser; when reaching the end of a page (that is: top or bottom) the browser will treat it as a 'back' or 'forward' command. Strange! That is only the case for the trackpoint and not the touchpad - and only in Opera...9.04

So now on karmic (and maybe earlier ubuntu-versions as well), I can do this with a graphical tool called: gpointing-device-settings .To install from terminal type : #aptitude install gpointing-device-settingsOR from normal account with root-privileges : $sudo aptitude install gpointing-device-settingsanother option might be to press Alt+F2 (run dialog) and to type the following in that box :gksudo aptitude install gpointing-device-settingsOR maybe this uri works :apt://gpointing-device-settings

Hello,I bought the Thinkpad USB keyboard with track located at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ONCC6G/ref=oss_product and i'm trying to configure the trackpoint to work the same as its working on my W500

How do i identify the mouse so i can add one more entry for it at /etc/hal/fdi/policy/mouse-wheel.fdi ? i tried to copy:

true 2 6 7 4 5 4 5 true

and change the 2 to 3 in the first line but that disabled both of the trackpoints to scroll